need 1 of 2

verb

Definition of neednext
1
as in to require
to have as a requirement a national crisis that needs a strong leader to solve it

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2
as in to must
to be under necessity or obligation to you need not stand when she enters the room

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need

2 of 2

noun

ˈnēd How to pronounce need (audio)
1
as in lack
a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful when it came time to wrap the presents, he found he was in need of adhesive tape

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable got a job that barely provided for his basic needs

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3
as in obligation
something one must do because of prior agreement no need to apologize

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions donating money to help those in need

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of need
Verb
Four turboprop engines power the aircraft, giving it the performance needed for demanding military transport operations. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 That means the Heat will need to choose whether to convert one of its Exhibit 10 contract players to a two-way deal or waive them to transition them to its G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
The president also defended the need to keep the state of emergency while also indicating his goal of ending it eventually. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The problem is that the kind of help the Leafs need usually comes from the draft. — James Mirtle, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for need
Recent Examples of Synonyms for need
  1. require
  2. must
  3. lack
  4. requirement
  5. obligation
  6. poverty
  7. want
  8. necessity
Verb
  • Years of integrating services, supported by money and the authority to require involvement, help explain Abu Dhabi’s progress.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The bag does the color blocking for you, adding an unexpected hit of color without requiring you to overthink the styling.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of require
Verb
  • The block party is free, but people who want to attend must RSVP.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
Definition of must
Noun
  • High energy costs, coupled with record exits of foreign investors from its capital markets due to risk aversion and the lack of artificial intelligence play, have kept the rupee under pressure.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • What should make all hardcore wheelmen and wheelwomen happy is the lack of a huge center screen.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of lack
Noun
  • However, the bill would also preempt certain state requirements covering public risk disclosures, independent evaluations, and critical incident reporting.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The legislation enacts new work requirements and greater vetting for Medicaid, the low-income program that thousands of Alaskans depend on for healthcare.
    — Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of requirement
Noun
  • Organizers have legitimate obligations and limited resources.
    — Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • True, Dua Lipa has mostly lived in places where the de facto street food is a kebab, but work obligations put her in the land of hot dogs plenty.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • If the main predictor of racial disparities in prison is poverty, then denouncing police and prosecutors as racist won't shrink those gaps.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The result was 90% of farmers in the country living in poverty with virtually all of them drinking unclean water.
    — Adam Duxter, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of poverty
Verb
  • Rukhsar went to the set every day because her father wanted her there.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Al Hassan wants renewal to happen automatically without needing to apply.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of want
Noun
  • Our neighbors still face high costs for housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries, and other necessities.
    — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
  • According to a new Guardian poll, 95 percent of Americans think that the United States is in the midst of an affordability crisis with many reporting trouble affording necessities like gas and groceries.
    — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of necessity

Browse Nearby Words

nectars
need
needed
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Cite this Entry

“Need.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/need. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on need

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about need

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